Bradenton teacher accused of throwing student

Horizons Academy instructor Colby Ray Cadwell grabbed a student by the ear and hair, according to authorities.

By GABRIELLE RUSSON

A Bradenton teacher was charged with child abuse after he carried a student out of the classroom and threw him outside, authorities said Friday.

Colby Ray Cadwell, 32, a teacher at Horizons Academy, faces a third-degree felony charge with a maximum penalty of five years in prison if he is convicted.

The alleged incident took place April 23 as the 13-year-old student stood in class, waiting in line.

Cadwell said the student “flinched” at another child, “as if he was going to strike the student,” according to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office report.

Cadwell threw him on the classroom floor and then picked the student up by his ear and hair. The teacher placed the student in a chokehold and carried him out the exit door, throwing him onto the grass, the student told authorities in the report.

Others at school witnessed the incident, which was also captured on surveillance video, the report said.

The principal reported the incident to the student resource deputy.

During the sheriff's investigation, Cadwell “apologized for the incident and stated he would have handled the incident differently by grabbing (the student) by the arm,” the report said.

Cadwell was hired as a teacher's aide on Jan. 24, 2007 at Manatee County schools.

He became a teacher on Aug. 17, 2010 and currently makes $38,226 a year.

He was placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the criminal investigation, said district spokeswoman Margi Nanney.

“The school district's highest priority is the safety and security of our students,” Superintendent Rick Mills said in a statement. “We are also committed to treating our school district employees fairly to ensure they are afforded all due process rights when accused of any offense. As is our practice, the Manatee School District will not initiate any investigation until law enforcements' investigation is concluded.”